The Basics on the VA Aid and Attendance Benefit

Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit: Nuts and Bolts

At The Herrick House, it is our privilege to salute every person who has served in the armed forces. To assist your search for the right retirement address, we’ve put together these facts about VA Aid & Attendance, a pension benefit that could assist in paying for long-term care such as assisted living, home health care, adult day care, or skilled nursing.

In 1952, Congress passed Title 38 of the United States Code authorizing certain benefits for Veterans. One of these benefits is the Non-Service-Connected Pension, with “Aid & Attendance.” The purpose was to help wartime Veterans, or their surviving spouse pay for care in independent living, assisted living, home health care, adult day care or skilled nursing care by providing monthly payments in addition to their monthly VA pension.

Veterans Aid and Attendance: Eligibility

This benefit starts with the Basic Pension and, depending on your medical need, gives you a rating which may add money to your pension. But you must meet certain criteria which are described generally here:

• Military service
  Served on Active Duty at least one day during a Period of War, at least 90 days in total and you were other than dishonorably discharged. Or your spouse at the time of their death met this criterion.
  • World War II: December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946, inclusive. If the Veteran was in service on December 31, 1946, then continuous service before July 26, 1947, is considered WWII service.
  • Korean conflict: June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955, inclusive.
  • Vietnam War era: November 1, 1955, to May 7, 1975, for Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period. August 5, 1964, to May 7, 1975, for Veterans who served outside the Republic of Vietnam.
  • Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990, through date to be prescribed by Presidential proclamation or law.
• Medical requirement
  The medical rating is determined by the Veteran’s medical situation if alive, or that of their surviving spouse. The applicant must meet at least one of these medical requirements:
  • You need another person to help you perform daily activities, like bathing, feeding, using the toilet, dressing, adjusting prosthetic devices or protecting yourself from the hazards of your daily environment.
  • You must stay in bed—or spend a large portion of the day in bed—because of illness.
  • You are a patient in a nursing home due to the loss of mental or physical abilities related to a disability.
  • Your eyesight is limited (even with glasses or contact lenses you have only 5/200 or less in both eyes; or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less).
• Financial requirement 
  This two-pronged requirement takes into account income and assets.
  
  Household income of the Veteran or surviving spouse must be less than the pension in which you are applying. However, you can deduct your medical insurance premiums, including Medicare, as well as the cost of home care and independent or assisted living fees. The amount of assets you can have is equal to the Maximum Federal Community Spouse Resource Allowance defined by Medicaid—which is $154,140 for 2024. Assets exclude your primary home, family transportation and your normal personal possessions

In addition, surviving spouses must have been married to a Veteran for at least one year. You must have been married to a Veteran at time of death, you must present your Veteran spouse's death certificate.

VA Aid & Attendance Enhanced Pension Rates for 2024

• Surviving Spouse: $1,478 Monthly / $17,7434 per year
• Single Veteran: $2,300 Monthly / $27,609 per year
• Married Veteran: $2,727 Monthly / $32,729 per year
• Two Vets Married: $3,649 Monthly / $43,791 per year

Applying for VA Aid & Attendance

• Send a completed VA form to the Pension Management Center (PMC) that serves your state. Find your PMC here.
• File a claim online.
• Apply in person at a VA office near you.

We Welcome Veterans with Open Arms at The Herrick House

The Herrick House is a resort-like assisted living and memory care community located in a picturesque setting in Beverly, Massachusetts. The moment you walk through our doors, you’ll feel welcomed by the comfortable, homelike ambiance. Our mission is to make you feel right at home while maintaining your highest quality of life.